Consignment shops can be a great place to find great deals, and make some money. If you’re interested in consigning your clothes, here’s a bit of information to get you started.

Percentage: Most shops work on a % basis. Your items stay there for a prescribed time period and whatever sells during that period, you earn a % of the price. At the end of the consignment period, you are either responsible for going and retrieving your items or they become property of the shop and get donated. Encore in Kennett pays a 65/35 split, but their fees are a bit higher-$15 a year and $2 per visit. The Growing Tree in Kennett pays 50/50 and then $0.10 per item processing fee. Once Upon a Child in Pike Creek pays a flat rate. You get cash on the spot, but you have completely relinquished your items and imo, their payouts are lower.

Fees: As I stated above, be certain of what fees you’re paying in addition to the % that the store is getting.

Earning: Typically, as a consignor, you can expect to earn about what you’d get for the items if you had a yard sale, without all the hassle of a yard sale.Items are generally priced at 30-50% of their original cost, and then you’ll get about half of that, so 15-25%. That is usually what yard sale items are priced at, 15-25% of their original cost.

Brands: Many shops are only interested in higher-end brand names. Leave your Circo and Faded Glory at home. Since those items can be gotten so cheap at Target and Walmart, they have little resale value. For kids clothes, think Gap, Baby Lulu, Polo for the best returns. Many places will still take Carters and Osh Kosh if it’s in good condition. For women, Ann Taylor, Talbots, Banana Republic and brands like that do the best.

Items: Encore takes housewares as well as clothing. The Growing Tree takes women’s and kids’ clothes, accessories, handbags, toys and books. Once Upon a Child takes many different baby items. So does Baz on 896 in New London. Baz also takes maternity wear.

Condition: Clean your items and press them. They need to look like new on a hanger. Would you purchase a shirt that had spots, was wrinkled or missing buttons? Probably not, unless you were at Goodwill. Only bring them seasonal items. Even though you’re cleaning summer stuff out of your closet right now, it won’t be eligible for consignment until after the holidays. But as I clean out my closet and the kids’ closet, I create three piles: consign now, consign next season, donate.

Shopping: Many stores keep an account running of your earnings. You can then either receive payment or use it as store credit. It’s a fun way to shop, think of trading in your old stuff for new stuff.

Great Buys: I have found some terrific buys at consignment shops. A cashmere twin set from Ralph Lauren for $8. Timberland hiking shoes for $7. Melissa & Doug toys for $3.50. All are in great condition. I also got new winter coats for the boys-L.L.Bean and Lands End, for about 25% of their original cost.

What to look for: Look for great quality toys. Winter coats and boots, specialty wear like holiday outfits and Halloween costumes. For women’s clothing, you can find many great things. You know how it is, you buy something, take it home and you just don’t care for it or for the way it fits. Many items come to consignment shops for just that reason and many are new with tags.

My 2 cents: I’ve visited several shops in this area. Most are like an outlet store–hit or miss. Sometimes you go and find lots of great deals, sometimes nothing. I’ve consigned things at Once Upon a Child and at the Growing Tree. The pros about Once Upon a Child are that you leave with cash and you don’t have to be bothered with retrieving your items if they don’t sell. The cons are that I think their payouts are less, I don’t find their staff to be particularly friendly and they are very hasty in going through your items. In their defense, they do purchase them from you, so they are stuck with them if they don’t sell, hence the reason they might be more selective and pay out less. I haven’t gone to Encore because I feel their fees are too high, plus they only take items on certain days of the week and I’ve heard it’s a madhouse, moms get there an hour before opening to get in line. No thanks! I’ve shopped at Baz and I think her prices are a bit too high for the quality of items she sells. I saw two identical ride on Fisher Price toys. One at Baz was $22 and it was out on the porch, quite sun-faded and dirty. The identical toy was at The Growing Tree for $25, but was in excellent, like-new condition. I like the atmosphere at The Growing Tree and Baz much better than OUAC, which is very warehouse like and impersonal. I haven’t been to Plato’s Closet just because my kids aren’t in that age group (teens and tweens) but it’s worth a look if you have kids that age. Plato’s and OUAC are chains/franchises owned by the same company.

Overall, I just find it fun to do and it is a great way to save money on some things and get back some of what you’ve already spent. Good luck!